Gm's Motorama

by Temple, David W.

• ISBN13: 9780760328262
• ISBN10: 0760328269
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-12-15
• Publisher: Motorbooks Intl

Summary

In the postwar exuberance of America, General Motors launched their Motorama, an all-out extravaganza that turned the marketing of new cars and designs into a cultural event of national proportions.GMrs"s Motoramabrings this short-lived but unforgettable tradition back to life with words and period photographs that revisit the posh venues, such as the Waldorf Astoria in 1953, where celebrities in Broadway-style shows and phalanxes of glamorous models introduced the public to "Dream Cars" destined to become legends-the GM LeSabre, Cadillac Le Mans, and the Chevrolet Corvette prototype. This book recreates the drama of the eight shows staged between 1949 and 1961, focusing on the cars designed under the leadership of the founder and head of GM Design, Harley Earl. The cars that emerged from the mind of Earl are today among the most desired of the twentieth century. Previously unknown facts about the fate of the Dream Cars-some of which seemingly disappeared-and a glimpse of GMrs"s recent crop of concept cars are offered in the bookrs"s final two chapters.

Author Biography

David W. Temple has been writing for many years for Car Collector, where his talent for in-depth research has gained him a reputation for thoughtful coverage of serious automotive topics. This is his first book.

Among contributor Dennis Adler’s best-known titles are: Porsche, The Art of the Sports Car, The Art of the Automobile, Mercede-Benz: Silver Star Century, Packard, and Fifties Flashback.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Editorrsquo;s Note: Looking Back to the Future

Preface and Acknowledgments

Introduction: Capturing the Hearts and Minds of Impressionable Male Adolescents

The Beginning

Birth of the Experimental Car and the GM Motorama

The Motorama Cars-Stars of the Show

Motorama Cars of Chevrolet

Motorama Cars of Pontiac

Motorama Cars of Oldsmobile

Motorama Cars of Buick

Motorama Cars of Cadillac

GMCrsquo;s Sole Motorama Dream Vehicle

LaSalle IIs and Firebirds-GMrsquo;s V-6 and Turbine Power Projects

An Era Ends

Twins, Triplets, and Quadruplets

The LEGACY-Motorama Car Mysteries and GMrsquo;s Newest Concepts

Fates of the Motorama Cars-Mysteries Solved and Unsolved

GMrsquo;s Newest Concepts

Appendix A: Number Built and Status of Motorama Show Cars

Appendix B: Where and When

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.